Priest unjust in criticism of Congressional Prayer Caucus

The fair Priest should perhaps concern himself with Child Molesters who wear his particular uniform. Or perhaps...Well, never mind.

Whenever I see his name in print I expect something outrageous. As you can see, he has his followers which is beyond my comprehension. I speak from personal experience that this man is quick to judge prior to knowing the facts and mean-spirited. I left Holy Family because of him and haven't been back even though he is gone. For the survival of that parish, thank goodness the Bishop took action.

I actually had the pleasure of attending the Christmass Eve Mass a few years ago that got Rev Thomas J. Quinlan into a bit of "trouble." It was a little bit shocking. Had a few people looking at each other. But I listen to every word he said that day. I got an I still remember the point of his sermon. Can't say I've listen much since. Sometimes it takes a maverick, after all wasn't Jesus a maverick?

Daniel L., the only "Rule" passed down roughly 6000 years ago was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge on good and evil. The Ten Commandments were about 3400 years ago. Regardless, you make a good point, but there are many here who need to criticize and ridicule anyone to acknowledges God or the power of prayer. Don't let it worry you.

I couldent agree more with TQ jhe hit the nail on the head.In my educational experience as a Catholic,prayer was never used as a power to change but to accept what ever happens good or bad. In the case of the catholic Church it is the "Arch Conservative" leadership that makes the decisions without input from the parishioner's.case in point the current bishop didn't even meet with the "900 who petioned on behalf of TQ. The present day attitude of the Church is big "I" little you,any wonder there are so many young people missing from the church.Its priests like TQ who need to be back in the church preaching and leading these young people back into the church

I didn't see in the Rev.'s comments that he is a non-believer, rather he's commenting on the extreme views that some "Christians" have and that they can be just as dangerous as other extremist religions. And furthermore, why should any religion be shoved down someone's throat? Religion is between you and your God, not you and everyone else.

What is it that scares all you godless commentors here the most? That there are still some people out here that believe in someone greater than themselves. That they believe in trying to live a life based on a list of 10 rules past down over 6.000 years ago. Or is it your mind is so advanced, after evolving from an ape to the genius you are today, that you couldn't possibly need to believe in a supreme being. Evidently now the power of prayer, which as far as I know every main stream religion (including the "old" Catholic church I was raised in ) belived in, is now found to be useless by some priests and parishioners? Lately I'm more thankful then ever to be a "born again" Christian. You non-believers need to figure it out for yourself.

I am not a TQ supporter but I certainly respect his ability to get people talking. Yes he uses the shock method, but for all you who do not know him he is true religious historian and expert on the Bible. I challenge anyone to debate him on religious theory or history.

You're right. Really, as soon as I saw Rev. Quinlan's letter, I knew the column would just write itself.
By the way, art b., Mitt's not even George Romney.

Reverand or not Guinlan still has the right to freedom of speech. Thank God. Personally I don't like Forbes, I never have, and I wish I felt his prayer caucus was genuine, but I don't. I look at it as a political move aimed at the faith based fundamentalist in VA Beach. There is a reason for seperation of Church and State. Why then isn't it practiced?

Why do we need this caucus, we elected these congressmen to pass laws not make turn the capitol into a chapel. To be honest, I am getting sick of politicians, especially republicans talking about how important their faith is to them. We heard that in 2000 from George Bush, apparently God told him to invade Iraq, mortage our finances, bankrupt the country, and deny healthcare for children. Now we have Romney, Guiliani, and Huckabee trying to out-God each other. By the way, Romney, you're no Jack Kennedy. Here's my advice to politicians. Keep your faith to yourself!

I had vowed not to read or comment on your columns again, but I've attended mass with TQ and I can't let this pass. Father TQ has been ostracized because he speaks the word the way it was intended and he speaks from faith and from actually thinking about what is written in the Bible. If people like you and many others would start listening to what the man actually says instead of reacting to what you're afraid he might say, then he'd still be saying mass.

I'm shocked that in 2007 more are not applauded and praising this man of the cloth for his ethics. Kerry; for shame!!
Hippocrates and haters; all I have to say to the cementers prior to mine. Kerry has just gone down several notches. Another instance to show the inhabitants of Hampton-Roads only care about the constitution if it applies to the gun lobby. It is time to move, I won't raise my child in such a place where the entire constitution is not held up especially from a journalist who is supposed to support the constitution. All you folks who drape yourselves around the flag here in this area are numb and Xenophobic, insensitive of the rights of others who are not Christian.

To Quinlan it is "absolute heresy" that "prayer has a power unto itself, or that prayer can change things," for "the only thing changed by praying is the person doing the praying... It doesn't change God."

Quinlan has a point. Christians must be woefully proud, self-absorbed and delusional (many are, for sure!) to think that a sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful God makes decisions based on prayers.

What if two Christians pray for opposite requests? Which side will an all-sovereign God take? Does God flip a coin?

What if prayers go against God's will? Hmmm.

if LSU's football fans pray harder--whatever that means--will that mean they beat OSU in January?

It is rather silly. And I pray that it will stop!

Your inability to examine issues from a different perspective makes you unable to grasp the point of Rev. Quinlan's piece. One person's "jihad" is another person's "war on terror." One person's "terrorist" is another person's "freedom fighter." Don't get me wrong, I am not saying jihad or terrorism are justified. But just because our side uses the term "war on terror" does not make everything we do right.

One could ask, who issued the "fatwa" against gays and lesbians denying them legal rights entitled to all Virginians? Oh, we call it a "constitutional amendment." That makes it OK for the majority to strip legal rights from an unpopular minority.

Final questions. Who would you like to be in charge in Iran? A secular government or a theocracy ruled by Muslim clerics? How do you want the U S run? A secular government or a theocracy ruled by born again Christians?

Gee Kerry, I never would have guessed you and I at one time worshipped at the same church. I was one of the 900 who petitioned the Bishop not to take our beloved T.Q. but as is always the case, the Catholic church does what it feels is best for us in its continued oppressively patriarchal way. The Church has fought obscenely for centuries to squelch individual thought, especially from its clergy. Thankfully Rev. Thomas J. Quinlan refuses to be silenced.

The problem with your Congressional Prayer Caucus is they are an Evangelical Christian advocacy group. True they've included a token Jew who apparently doesn't object to participating in a group that prays in Jesus's name but ask any other member if they are fundamentalist Evangelical Christians and they'll proudly tell you yes, they are. I would have imagined as a Catholic you would have understood why that might present a problem to a Priest of your faith. Some believe it possible to be a righteous soul even if not part of their exclusionary club. Obviously you forget that the Religious right is praying that heathen Catholics like you and Jews like me, adopt their faith... otherwise our prayers don't count.

Should just remove the "Reverand" title from his name. If he doesnt believe in the power of prayer, and he are anti-religion, then fine... but he shouldnt try to pass himself off as a religious authority figure, especially if the Catholic church has censured him. Maybe he should found his own Church of Non-Belief, and leave it at that.

Dear Kerry,
It must be a slow news day, because I'm surprised that you wasted your efforts commenting on anything Father Quinlan has to say. It is known that senility has long been taking hold and we all are fortunate that Bishop Lorenzo recognized his demise, and removed him as pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church. Please direct your prayers in such a manner that will assist Father Quinlan in keeping his mouth shut, and also to the 900+ souls who petitioned to keep him on, that they have seen the light.

I was shocked when I read TQ's diatribe in yesterday's paper. And then realized that this is just another example, perhaps, of why he was removed from active priesthood. Shame, shame, shame on him. I hope this comes to the attention of The Catholic Virginian!

With Catholicism as the source of the majority of worldwide murders and staunch supporters of anti-semitism over the course of history in the name of their "faith", these pagans that in truth worship a man, the Pope, instead of God, have no moral ground to stand on with any subject. Their cult is far closer to Islamofascism than any other.

The military recognizes the role of Spirituality on the men and women fighting in the armed services. So much so you have Rabbis, Imams, Chaplins, and Fathers... Faith plays an important role in a lot of peoples lives. But to say that this should be "banned" or is Heresy is asinine. Does this guy know the hearts of these people? Does he know their status with God? From what I've read the relationship between God and his people is personal. So I would gather to say he has no clue about their hearts. I have no problem in a Prayer Caucus, of any faith in Government. Just like I have no problem with the different members in the Chaplins Corps. They provide a much needed service to those who believe.

Amen

This person is a reverend? Webster's says worthy of reverance, and after reading his garbage the other day as well as some previous printed comments from him about other issues, he sure doesn't qualify to hold this title. What or who does he represent? Like a writer in this morning's VP, we need to know what church (?) he leads so that we can also pray for them to recover from the path to hell that he is leading them down.